The Veterinary Diagnostic Services Laboratory with MB Agriculture does the majority of disease tests on Livestock in MB. Samples that go to the lab are submitted through a licensed Provincial veterinarian.

Manitoba's Morgan Moore elected Vice-Chair of the Canadian Sheep Federation Board of Directors

For Immediate Release

December 1, 2018 – Calgary, Alberta – The Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) is pleased to announce the election of Allan Ribbink as Chairman of the Board at the 2018 Annual General Meeting.

Allan Ribbink, along with his wife Marlene and their son Cody operate a sheep and cash crop farm in Tiverton, Ontario. Their daughter Cailey works off the farm. The Ribbink’s have been involved in Canada’s sheep industry since 1979. “I look forward to working with the CSF Board and staff implementing the organization’s new strategic plan, focused on unifying the industry and helping improve results for the entire value chain” said Mr. Ribbink following the adjournment of the CSF’s 2018 Annual General Meeting.

The CSF Executive Committee has a number of newly elected members this year including Morgan Moore (MB) as Vice-Chair, Liezel Kennedy (SK) as Secretary and Sheri Schweb (BC) as Treasurer. The rest of the CSF Board of Directors consists of Jocelyn McGraw (NB), Joseph Leck (NS), Harry Elsinga (PEI), Wilson Reid (NL), Brian Greaves (CCWG) and Ted Skinner (CSBA).The CSF thanks departing Chairman Phil Kolodychuk for his years of dedicated service to the organization and continued contributions to the success of the Canadian industry.

The 2018 AGM took place in Calgary, following two days of Sheep Value Chain Round Table meetings. The Board also spent some time this year modernizing the organization’s strategic plan.

The Canadian Sheep Federation is a national, non-profit organization with a mission to represent the interests of the Canadian sheep industry, providing leadership aimed at furthering the sustainability, growth and prosperity of the sector.

For more information contact the Canadian Sheep Federation at 1-888-684-7739 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MB Lamb Featured on Great Tastes of MB

The MSA is pleased to share a link to Saturday's broadcast if "Half Cup Habit" featuring Manitoba Lamb!

District Elections (required in Western, Northwest and Interlake regions)

Special Presentation - "Using Alternative Feeds with Sheep" presentation by he MB Ag Sheep Team (Wray Whitmore or Linda Fox)

MSA EXECUTIVE MEET WITH MINISTER

On September 26, 2018, MSA Executive Sheri Bieganski, Morgan Moore with Executive Director Kate Basford had a productive meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Ralph Eicher. Discussions included the current Manitoba sheep industry and its producers, working with lending institutions to grow the sheep industry; having a designated sheep specialist over the sheep team would benefit the industry and meet producers needs better; extending AG Action Manitoba to sheep producers and going forward strengthening alliances with MB Ag and MSA.

Draxxin Approval

Please note that this week Zoetis Canada received approval for the use of Draxxin for foot rot in Sheep as follows:

The indications are: ‘For the treatment of ovine foot rot associated with Dichelobacter nodosus when systemic treatment is required due to the presence of active lesions.’

Dr. Melodie Chan is available to support communication on this new sheep claim.

More information will be made available as we receive it!

Details Released for the 2018 Show & Sale

The 2018 MSA Show & Sale took place on Saturday, August 25th at the Carberry Fair Grounds in Carberry, MB.

Please click on the MSA Events tab and then "Annual Show & Sale" for more info and a show catalogue!

PENS OF TWO 5 pens sold; High Seller $820.00/pen; Average $ 612.00/ pen

PENS OF THREE 4 pens sold ; High Seller $1050.00 /pen ; Average $971.00/pen

JACKPOT EWE LAMB 4 sold; High Seller $$350.00; Average $325.00

JACKPOT MARKET LAMB 3 sold : average $ 250.00

Thank you to all our buyers and consigners!

Ag Action Manitoba

Funding Specifically to Sheep Producers at a 50/50 cost sharing- The Ag Action Manitoba program offers funding activities for farmers that support the growth and sustainability of primary agriculture in Manitoba. Click here to access the "productivity for sheep" link that provides the necessary program information.

MSA Announces Scholarship Opportunity

The MSA is pleased to once again pleased to offer the Dr. John Hamerton Scholarship!

The $500 award is deigned to promote the future success of the MB Sheep Industry's youth through higher learning, skills development and leadership. It is open to any student who is a current member of the MSA or is related to a current MSA member. For more information and how to apply, click here.

Looking for MB Sheep Flocks for Parasite Study

In the upcoming summer of 2018, the researchers are looking to continue and survey more flocks in Manitoba - this will be the 4th year of the study. The project will look at parasite burden and at the efficacy of treatment at the flock level. Molecular techniques for identification of parasites will be used. Detection of parasite resistance to dewormers and its evolution will be monitored over several years. If your flock consist of 20 or more ewes and you are interested in this project, we would like you to contact us (information at right). The results are confidential. However if you want to share the results with your regular veterinarian, we will ask for your consent and will forward the results to her/him

Over the past few years, a team of investigators as well as summer research students from the University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine have undertaken surveys of sheep flocks in Western Canada (including Manitoba) to assess the level of gastro-intestinal parasites present. The researchers conducted more detailed investigation on parasite resistance to dewormers on a number of farms in Alberta by on-farm visits to perform fecal egg count reduction tests. The results of this work suggests that many Alberta sheep flocks have high parasite burdens and that Ivomec and Safeguard/Valbazen resistant parasites may be more common than previously thought in Alberta and probably Western Canada.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS PROJECT. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, PLEASE CONTACT THE RESEARCH GROUP AT This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or you can contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ';document.getElementById('cloakad55fb8ff15a7282ea7f66886856171b').innerHTML += ''+addy_textad55fb8ff15a7282ea7f66886856171b+'';

To initiate, support, and conduct programs and activities designated to stimulate and improve the economic well-being of all segments of the Manitoba sheep industry.

MSA Sustainability Statement

A Manitoba Sheep Industry that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable through

continuos improvement and awareness.

About Us

The Manitoba Sheep Association (MSA) is proud to represent over 400 sheep and lamb producers (both commercial and purebred producers) across the province. Our mission is to actively initiate, support and conduct programs and activities designed to stimulate and improve the well being of all segments of the sheep industry in Manitoba. We also present producer concerns and issues to government and other agricultural organizations. The MSA is a member of the Manitoba Forage Council and the Canadian Sheep Federation.

The MSA is a proud supporter and Board Member of:

Our History

The Manitoba Sheep Breeders Association (MSBA) was formed in 1904; an Association that actively promoted the showing and selling of purebred stock. This remained the major purpose of the MSBA, however, it also handled industry concerns. Commercial producers were concerned that their side of the industry was not being served and as a result the Manitoba Lamb Feeders Association was created.

For several years both organizations were active. However, in the late 1940’s, the provincial sheep industry decreased in size and in January 1981 the two groups amalgamated under the name of the Manitoba Sheep Association. In 1989, the Manitoba Sheep Association was incorporated.

In 2003, following a successful referendum, the Manitoba Sheep Association was designated as the official organization representing sheep producers in Manitoba and thus allowed to levy a mandatory but refundable check-off. Manitoba and the other western provinces are now tied to the purchase of a $1.00 national ID tag per animal marketed (Check-off regulations). All producers paying check-off and not requesting a refund are members of the MSA. This check off allows the MSA to more effectively represent sheep producers at both the provincial and national level.

As of January 2013, the Canadian Sheep Federation collects a 25 cent check off fee per tag purchased for use in Manitoba.